Ann Romney 'excited' her horse Olympic-bound
(CNN) – Ann Romney will not be riding her dressage horse Rafalca at this summer's London Olympics, but she said Monday she was still proud to represent the United States in the global competition.
"I am so excited honestly to be able to represent the United States," Romney said in a radio interview with WJR's Frank Beckmann. "I have a horse that is going to be fighting for gold in London and I am very excited about that. Wow! It has been a dream of mine for a long, long time, ever since I was a little girl."
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Romney said she did ride Rafalca herself, but the level of competition in London was beyond her abilities.
"I do ride this horse, but not in competition," Romney, the wife of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, said Monday. "People say, 'Well you can ride at that level,' and I say, "Well…" It's like being the country club pro in one place, and then going to Wimbledon. You don't understand how professional these riders are that are riding at this level. It's quite competitive."
Rafalca earned a spot on the U.S. Equestrian Team on Saturday in the sport of dressage. The horse placed third in the Olympic Grand Prix Special Test, held Saturday in Gladstone, New Jersey. Rafalca scored an overall 73.169%, placing behind competitors Calecto V and Legolas, and ahead of nine others.
In her interview Monday, Romney also spoke about life on the campaign trail, saying she didn't mind the hoards of hecklers that have followed her husband's six-state, five day bus tour.
"It is what we love about America so I don't mind them," Romney said. "You know, they were shouting us down, trying to shout us down yesterday and I don't mind it. It is a great contrast about why we love this country and how hard people have to work to get to accomplish their dreams."
Asked if, as president, Mitt Romney and his family would take as many vacations as President Barack Obama, Romney responded with a laugh.
"I doubt that," she said. "Our vacations and our happiness comes from being with our children and our grandchildren."
Vacations, Romney explained, would likely take place at the family's own homes.
"We have our own places that we do that, and I'm assuming that we'll be doing the same," Romney said.
The Romney's own vacation homes in San Diego and on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
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I just got a note from a friend that said Ann Romney received a tax deduction for this horse last year that was larger than the median American income for the entire year. So for all of you who admire the Romney;s: do you really think the American tax code should subsidize these kinds of activities? Is this not an absurd example of welfare for the rich????
I am definitely not a Romney supporter, but I think it's pretty cool Ann Romney's horse will be representing our country in the Olympics.
Leave it to the Romneys. Their only knowledge of Olympic athletes is their horse. Way to show you fit in with the common American!
Virginia
...The great thing about this country is that no matter where you come from or the circumstances of your birth, there is the OPPORTUNITY to reach the 1% if you desire...
June 18, 2012 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |
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This reminds me of an old joke about Reagan's political appeal. It went something like this: The secret to Reaganomics is that 20% are exploiting 80%, and 60% are trying to be part of the 20%. I suppose those percentages would have to be adjusted now for the much-increased income inequality that are the result of the last 30 years of winner-take -all everything.
Of course the 1% love to tell the story of how their riches-beyond-the dreams-of-avarice piles of wealth all came to them because they are so very deserving, smart, talented, energetic, hard-working, daring, prescient, etc. And of course the wealth-worshipping syncophants eagerly agree. A neutral observer, though, quickly notices that those who build fortunes often start with fortunes, run into lots of undeserved good luck, and skim huge amounts off the profits and ideas generated by those work for them. The self-made man is a self-serving fantasy. Check Edison's biography if you have any doubts.
On a side note: if raising five kids and dealing with health problems now makes one a "great lady" then there are plenty of working women - and I mean, *really* working women - out there who deserve a huge break and some government-supported health care. Who knows what they might accomplish if given the kind of support that Ann Romney apparently takes for granted? Perhaps there is another Jackie Kennedy or Michelle Obama out there, drowning in medical bills and barely keeping her family afloat. How about we celebrate, and help, *her* (whoever she may be) instead of wasting our time on a vain, self-absorbed, self-important horse owner?
I have heard Anne and Mitt get to claim their horse on their taxes as a deduction. Is this true? When the republicans want to stop or make child deductions less for the middle class.
Nothing says "middle class working woman" like a 77,000 tax subsidized hobby horse that excels in dressage!(WETF that is)
Does Romney and his wife have Secret Service protection and will they protect him and his wife at the Olympics? Will all of the people who seem to have issues with this President and his family traveling be okay with that? I'm just askin.........
Mrs. Romney would probably make a good first lady as she seems like a nice person. That said, the Romneys do not even have a remote idea of how the middle class lives. I saw a sign yesterday saying a factory was hiring for $8.50 an hour. That comes to $17,000 a year. I will wager that the Romneys stable "help" make more than that. They don't know how the "other" people live and probably don't care.
So MDNA you have heard this also? hmmmmmmmmm
Next Ann will be trotting out the hounds that the "average stay at home mom" keeps for the fox hunt!
We not talking about the Kennedy's we are talking about Romey's. So your point does not have merit. You are looking back and we are looking forward.
Yes, we are talking about the Romney's and that's the problem. The Romney's as stated by Cali Girl couldn't hold a candle to the Kennedy's (and we know the Kennedy's history) Hopefully, we won't be discussing them anymore past November.
Horse Dressaging is very popular up here in Cleveland, OH. A real blue collar sport. Go Ann! Never forget where you came from!
She cares more about feeding and keeping that horse healthy than the American people!
Ann Romney is going to make a GREAT first lady. I'm sure she's been proud of the United States ALL of her life.
The Kennedys new they were wealthy and everyone knew it. The Romneys pretend to be middle class and not to hide their money in the Caymans and Bermuda.
"fight for the Gold"???
Yep, better to send a horse off to "fight" for the country, rather than one of her 5 trust fund babies!
So, she did work outside the home. Thank God that the Romneys can support a horse trainer.
Mitt Romney has promised that he will repeal the health care law on Day One of his presidency. What is wrong with a candidate who takes a $77,000 tax writeoff for his horse but wants to do away with health care for the American people? I mean really!
I can see now why he thinks America does not need anymore teachers and policemen and firemen.
"Dear American middle class working people, believe me when I tell you I know what it's like to get a pink slip. I know what it's like to be out of work. Believe me when I say that we can't afford first responders and educators............... Those taxpayer dollars are desperately needed to subsidize horses for millionaires."
Mrs Romeny say's "how hard people work to accomplish their dreams..." Clearly suggesting that her husband is working hard to accomplish his dream to become the POTUS
Who says Romney does not know how to create jobs?
Missy Ann obviously, needs a chauffeur to drive one of the Cadillacs from the manse to the stables!
How much did the Romneys contribute to the AmericanOlympic Committee to get their horse selected in the equestrian portion of these games.Romney since running the Olympics in Salt Lake must have close ties with olympic committee members I would think,so its a no brainer that Anns horse is representing our great country. The Romneys "only"get a 77,000 dollar tax deduction for their investment yearly, if the horse does well their four legged investment will undoubtedly pay off big.Thank you tax payers for footing the bill on another hugh invetment,one that nobody till now really knew,nice surprise ha,only in America can a horse live better than most of the civil population,isn't that patriotic!! A horse living the American dream,how original!!
they are rich and not ashamed of it.....I would be to. Nothing wrong with being successful........Obama served in the Army? Navy? Air Force? nope.....ran a business....nope....ran a city....nope....ran a state.....nope. But, he was a successful business man??? NOPE!! The Romney’s are smart, successful, have a proven track record….all unlike Obama. Obama said in 2008 that if we gave him 3 years he would “fix” the economy……two of those years he had a super majority and could have done anything and passed anything he wanted…..guess what….he failed. lol
horsey better stay tax deduction or it might get a bullet in the head
Ho Hum, Dosen't everyone have a horse in the Olympics.
It seems Ann Romney is a likable person but the Romney family is so out of touch with the average American, the thing that bothers me is that they are betraying themselves as average and it's just not true. I have a dog and a two car garage, she has a champion horse and an elevator being built in the garage of her new home in La Jolla, way different world!